Tire adapter



Oct. 20, 1953 Q C; BLOMGREN 2,656,083

TIRE ADAPTER Filed May 23, 1950 Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT ofi-FICE TIRE ADAPTER Oscar Clarence Blomgren, Evanston, Ill.

Application May 23, 1950', Serial No. 163,610

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an adapter for connection to a valve casing of a tire to remove and replace the valve and to iill the tire with liquids or to remove liquids from the tire, all while maintaining liquid-tight engagement with the valve casing.

The practice of filling the tires of automotive equipment with liquids is becoming more prevalent, particularly with respect to heavy equipment such as tractors and trucks. On such equipment the tires may be of the self-sealing type or they may contain an inner tube. Water serves quite satisfactorily as the lling liquid under most circumstances, but temperature conditions may require the employment of nonfreezing liquids such as may be obtained by adding to the Water an organic or inorganic freezing point depressant. Calcium chloride brines are extensively used for this purpose.

Since tires and tubes are manufactured with a valve intended for use with gases, it is necessary to provide an adapter for the introduction of liquids into the tires. Such an adapter should provide a tight connection between a liquid source and the valve casing and should also provide means for removing the valve core and its housing without breaking the connection to the casing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tire filling adapter of the type described which is simple and easy to operate.

Another object is to provide a tire filling adapter which is light in weight and readily portable.

A further object is to provide a tire iilling adapter which may be easily connected and disconnected without tools to a tire valve casing and to a suitable source of liquid.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the tire lling adapter of the invention illustrated in disconnected position with respect to a tire valve;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the tire filling adapter connected to the valve casing in position for removal of the valve core and its housing, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tire lling adapter in fluid dispensing position after removal of the valve core and its associated housing from the tire valve casing.

The adapter provided according to the invention is novel and unusual in that the housing for (Cl. 22S-20.8)

the operatively associating parts of the adapter is of a clear transparent material thereby making possible the observation of the mechanical operations and the passage of the liquid under pressure into the tire. The adapter is further charaeterized in that the valve removing means and the liquid inlet means are each part of the same member and enter the housing through a single opening. The above features render the device simple and positive in operation while at the same time providing lightness and portability.

Referring to the drawings, the adapter is shown in connection with the conventional valve mounted on a tire. The valve casing I is adapted to be connected with the body of the tire (not shown) and to extend outwardly therefrom. At the upper end of the valve casing I is a portion 2 which is externally threaded at 3 to engage corresponding internal threads on a knurled cap 4. The cap 4 is fixed to the valve core housing 5 into which is tted the valve core (not shown). One end of the housing 5 ts into the valve casing 2 in fluid-tight engagement therewith as provided by the neoprene packing ring 6 (Fig. 3) mounted on the valve housing E. The outer end of the housing 5 is externally threaded to receive a valve cap (not shown).

When it is desired to illl the tire with liquid, the adapter is brought into position with respect to the tire valve assembly, and the valve assembly is inserted into one of the iittings in the adapter. A liquid tight seal is effected between the tting 'I of the adapter and the valve by means of the internal threads 8 on the fitting 1 and the external threads 9 on the casing 2. The iitting I is secured in the transparent plastic housing I0 by means of the threads II therein. The transparent plastic housing I0 istubular in shape and is of suiiicient thickness and strength to withstand the pressures encountered in the filling operation. l

A combined liquid filling means and valve positioning means I2 is inserted into an opening in the end of the housing III opposite the valve receivingr end and is slidable therein. The element I2 has a valve holding portion I3 and a tubular portion I4. The valve holding portion I3 consists of a tubular member 'closed at one end and provided with one or more slits or openings I3a in the sides thereof extending inwardly from the open end.

A passageway I5 extends transversely through the member I4 and connects with one end of a longitudinal passage It. The outer end of the The element l2 is adapted to move longitu-- v dinally with respect to the plastic housing Ii) in an opening 25 in a fitting 2E. threadedly engages one of the openings in the plastic housing IS.

ting 26, while at the same time maintaining a uid tight engagement between the two, theO- ring seal 2l (or a washer) is positioned in a re cessfzit in-jthebodyrof the fitting 2d. The out-- ward longitudinal movementcf .the .element i2 is restrictedby theA `protruding .metal ring 29 sothat -it .may not be accidentally withdrawn from the fitting 2t.. The. .ring 29 isseated in a groove in.theelement and actsas a stop when it strikes against theinner. end of the fitting 25 isee'FigureS). f In the/'use'oftheada'pter for lling tires with liquid ballast the v.open endof the fitting 'i is screwed onto the threads 9 of vaive casing l until a liquid Vtight,connection is made. Atthis point the. .movable .element i2' will be .approximately inthe position illustrated .in Figure. l. The eleinentf l2.. is .then .advanced toward the, valve vby sliding it forward inthey plastic housing i@ until the valve. holding. means .I Sengages the knul-led surface of the'cap 4. in-'tigh-t. frictional engageT ment. .This ,positionis illustrated. generally in Eigurez of ,the draw'ngs.l v 'l ."rhe-erippingacuon is nominated. by the rings aand'l v'seated 'in'. recesses around the outside ofthe member I3., As theelement i2 is pushed toward the' valve. the` rings. Sil and 3'! strike against the interiorof the passageway in fitting I and compress the sides of member i3 inwardly thereby" exerting increased' pressure on 'the knurled cap 4. The slits i3d provide space for the sides of the member i3 to move inwardly to tighten the grip Aon the .cap :i and later to. re-1 lea-se it without permanent distortion. The element l2 is then v rotated about its axis in Counter-classifies .direction to thereby .unf screw the u niori cap, iffrornj the valve casing?. When .the ,Gesine and .the can .have became. dise4 engaged', the elementjlf'is retracted `frorn the position shownunrigure 2 jto Vthe position'o'f Figure A3.- It 'willwbe noted' that the valye positioning'means I3 carries with it the *union* cap (i and the valve housing 5. At this point there remains no` obstruction between the interior of the housing i6 and the interior of the tire, so that fluids may flow freely between the two.

The coupler plug-Edie now inserted into the liquid supply line (not'shown) and a iiuid tight engagement is eiected. A supply of liquid under pressure is then introduced into the. main supply line and .through the coupleri to the shut-ofi valve IS. After it has been determined that all of the fittings are liquid tight, the valve i8 is opened ,and the liquidjunder pressure is allowed to fiow through the passageway I6 in'tube-Is and the passageway iiifrom whence itvwill pass into the open-.chamber of thehousi ng It and into thctlle thlougiqasing If. Theoperator may This nti-,ing

In order to provideforfslidf able movement of the elementic within the t.

4 determine the visual observation through the transparent housing, or by other suitable means when the desired amount of liquid has been introduced into the tire.

When the tire is filled, the shut-off valve I8 is closed and the coupler 2Q is disconnected from the liquid supply line. The element i?. is then advanced so that the valve holding means I3 moves forward within the housing lil, until the valve housing ii is once" yagain' in "position within the valve casing i. The element i2 is rotated in a clockwise direction in order to screw the union cap fi onto the threaded end 3 of the valve casing. 2. When this is done, the liquid under pressure in the tire is positively confined by the normal operation of the valve. The adapter may then be disconnected from the valve casing by unscrewing it from the threaded portion il and the tire will be ready for use.

While the foregoing description has been limited to -theprocessoflling a tire. with liquid, it '.,wil1 .be.understood :that the ladapter is equally suitable for use in. exhausting liguid from, a.tire. rlThismay be important where @inexpensive liquid is being employed and, it is, desirable to maintain positive control over the liquid for recovery purposes. A.

lt will be apparent that the type of, materials to be used in the manufacture lof an adapterof the type described will be dictated largely by the character of the liquid' to b e handled. 'Ifhllsi if water is to be usedthe metal ttings may be made of iron, steel or aluminum and the gasket and Sealing materials may beordinary. rubber or other well known packing materials. E howv ever, a corrosive liquid s uch as a "calcium chloride brindis. 00 be employed, the metal parts. .are preferably made of stainlesssteel, lbrass or other corrosion resisting metals and alloys. ,Eiin'iilaij-L ly, the packing materials vwilltbe of neoprene. fighe transparent plastichousing may bernadeof anynof thev transparent plasticsfavailable com? mercially, such as the rnethacrylate resins {Lucite} cellulose acetate or certainof the vinyl resins. In most instances these plastics are corrosion resisting in nature and may be employed regardless of the type of liquid'to'be dispensed; From the foregoing it will be apparent that the invention provides a novel and usefuladapter for filling a tire with liduid'which adapter will be iight in wenn@ easily uenpe'rtebie'ahd easyl to operate. The device lfurther provides for visual determination of the'progress of the fiiling operation and Yof the connecting and necting steps.

*The invention visl herebygclaim'd Tas* folloiivzs:l

'-11. A tire lling adapter -ccrhprisingai'fie'lcn` gated housing` having a longitudinal 5 bore adapted to enclose a tire valve, means for connecting' one end of said housing in liquid-tight engagement with a tire valve casing when said valve is enclosed within said bore, an elongated plunger partly enclosed within and rotatingly and longitudinally movable relative to said housing and projecting from the remaining end of said housing, and means forming a liquid-tight seal between said remaining vend of said housing and said plunger Whiley permitting rotation and longitudinal movement of the latter, said plunger beingl constructed at its enclosed endto grip a valve for rotation of the latterv andhaving a longitudinalA bore from its. projectingA end. to a portion enclosed within said housing,` said plunger and said housing being constructed to provide a liquid passageway withinsaid housing from said plunger bore to said enclosed end of said plunger, and the said projecting end of said plunger being adapted for connection to a source of liquid.

2` A tire filling adapter as defined in claim 1 wherein the said housing is constructed of transparent material.

3. In a tire nlling adapter as deiined in claim 1, the construction wherein the said plunger is provided with a slotted tubular portion at its enclosed end adapted to grip a valve for rotation of the latter, and means are provided for compressing the said tubular portion when in gripping engagement with a seated valve.

4. In a tire lling adapter as deiined in claim 1, the construction wherein a flow valve is attached to the said projecting end of said plunger.

5. A tire filling adapter comprising an elongated housing having a, longitudinal bore adapted to enclose a tire valve, means for connecting one end of said housing in liquid-tight engagement with a tire valve casing when said valve is enclosed within said bore, an elongated plunger partly enclosed Within and rotatingly and longitudinally movable relative to said housing and projecting from the remaining end of said housing, and means :forming a liquid-tight seal between said remaining end of said housing and said plunger while permitting rotation and longitudinal movement of the latter, said plunger being constructed at its enclosed end to grip a valve for rotation of the latter and having a longitudinal bore from its projecting end to a portion enclosed within said housing and also having a transverse bore in an enclosed portion extending to its outer surface and communicating with said last-named longitudinal bore, the inner surface of said housing and the outer surface of said plunger between said transverse bore and said enclosed end being constructed to provide a. liquid passageway between the latter two, and the said projecting end of said plunger being adapted for connection to a source of liquid.

6. A tire filling adapter comprising a generally tubular housing constructed of transparent material and adapted to enclose a tire valve, means for connecting one end of said housing in liquid-tight engagement with a tire valve casing when said valve is enclosed within said housing, a generally tubular plunger partly enclosed within said housing in spaced relation thereto and projecting from the remaining end of said housing, means forming a liquid-tight seal between said remaining end of said housing and said plunger while permitting rotation and longitudinal movement of the latter, said plunger having a slotted tubular portion at its enclosed end adapted to grip a valve for rotation of the latter and having a longitudinal bore from its projecting end to a portion enclosed Within said housing and also having a transverse bore in an enclosed portion extending to its outer surface and communicating with said longitudinal bore, the said projecting end of said plunger being adapted for connection to a source of liquid, and means for compressingthe said slotted tubular portion when in gripping engagement with a seated valve.

OSCAR, CLARENCE BLOMGREN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 987,000 Lukens Mar. 14, 1911 1,869,282 Schwartz July 26, 1932 2,125,554 Franck Aug. 2, 1938 2,320,042 McMahon May 25, 1943 2,370,182 Morrow Feb. 27, 1945 2,502,301 Alderfer Mar. 28, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 259,631 Switzerland July 1, 1949 

